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ww. 

THE 

FULFILMENT 
OF  LIFE 

dk  -§fe> 


G  CAMPBELL  MORGAN 
8  — 


INTERCHURCIi  WORLD  MOVEMENT 

OF  NORTH  AMERICA 
Hi  FIFTH  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK  CITY 


The 

Fulfilment  of  Life 


By 

G.  Campbell  Morgan 


Interchurch  World  Movement 
of  North  America 

111  FIFTH  AVENUE  NEW  YORK  CITY 


Copyright  1902 
by  I.  H.  Hull 

and  reprinted  with  permission 


Price:  5  cents  each,  50  cents 
per  dozen,  $2.75  per  hundred 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


rHE  fact  of  life  is  far  greater  than  the 
mysteries  surrounding  it.  This  is  not 
to  deny  the  greatness  of  the  mysteries, 
or  the  fascination  afforded  by  searching  for 
their  solution.  The  consciousness  of  per¬ 
sonality  brings  us  all,  sooner  or  later,  face 
to  face  with  the  questions :  “What  am  I  ?” 
“Whence  came  I  ?”  “Whither  go  I  ?”  “Why 
am  I  ?” 

The  personality  giving  rise  to  the  question 
is  greater  than  the  problem  suggested, 
and  the  difficulty  experienced  in  solving 
these  mysteries  of  being  does  but  demon¬ 
strate  the  greatness  of  life.  It  is  by  no 
means  wrong  to  give  careful  attention  to 
these  problems,  but  it  is  certainly  a  mistake 
when  the  attempt  to  solve  the  problems  is¬ 
sues  in  neglect  of  the  life  which  creates 
them. 

So  also  is  life  itself  greater  than  any  sur¬ 
rounding  circumstances  which  affect  it,  or 
any  current  opinion  held  concerning  it. 

These  again  are  full  of  value,  and  must  be 
considered,  because  of  their  influence  upon 
life.  This  admission  is  but  another  proof  of 
the  preeminent  importance  of  the  life  itself. 


2 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


To  every  individual,  the  great  consciousness 
is  that  of  existence;  the  great  knowledge 
is  that  of  the  nature  of  existence ;  the  great 
victory  is  that  of  fulfilling  the  purpose  of 
existence. 

The  consciousness  of  existence  comes  to  the 
vast  majority  of  us  without  observation. 
Some  there  are  who  tell  us  that  at  some  mo¬ 
ment  in  childhood  there  suddenly  broke 
upon  them  the  sense  of  being.  A  moment 
surcharged  with  light,  dawned  upon  the 
soul,  in  which  they  understood  their  separ¬ 
ated  life — that  they  were  not  altogether  part 
of  other  things,  but  stood  alone  in  person¬ 
ality.  These  cases  are  rare.  The  ordinary 
experience  is  that  of  a  sub-consciousness  of 
personality  which  asserts  itself  gradually, 
with  no  clearly  defined  crisis.  In  some  way, 
it  comes  to  all,  and  if  the  mightiest  sentence 
in  the  language  is  “God  is,”  the  next  in  im¬ 
portance  for  every  individual  is  “I  am” 

If  this  be  granted,  then  it  follows  that  the 
great  knowledge  is  that  of  the  nature  of 
existence.  Much  of  the  sin  and  sorrow  of 
the  day  is  the  direct  outcome  of  ignorance 
concerning  the  true  nature  of  one’s  own  life. 
Shakespeare  has  put  into  the  mouth  of  Wol- 
sey,  in  the  hour  of  his  fall,  words  that  are 
suggestive  and  full  of  value; 

“I  know  myself  now;  and  I  feel  within  me 
A  peace  above  all  earthly  dignities, 

A  still  and  quiet  conscience.” 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


3 


How  much  of  sorrow  this  man  of  undoubt¬ 
ed  greatness  would  have  been  spared,  had 
he  known  himself  earlier,  who  can  tell?  It 
was  Juvenal  who  said: 

“This  precept  descended  from  heaven,  ‘Know 
thyself/ ” 

The  measure  of  self-knowledge  is  the  meas¬ 
ure  of  full  life,  and  is  the  measure  also  of 
true  service.  This  knowledge  may  not  be 
attained  in  a  day,  but  toward  it  the  training 
and  discipline  of  the  early  years  should  all 
tend. 

The  greatest  victory  attainable  in  this  life 
is  that  of  fulfilling  the  possibilities  of  per¬ 
sonality,  and  the  greatest  defeat  is  that  of 
failure  in  this  direction.  Words  of  Jesus, 
having  another  first  intention,  nevertheless 
prove  this  position:  “For  whosoever  would 
save  his  life  shall  lose  it ;  and  whosoever 
shall  lose  his  life  for  my  sake  and  the  gos¬ 
pel’s  shall  save  it.”  While  the  emphasis  of 
teaching  here  is  on  the  method,  the  end  in 
view  is  evident,  that  of  finding  and  realizing 
at  its  highest  and  best  the  individual  life. 

Recognizing  that  every  individual  life  is  a 
creation  of  God,  having  its  own  peculiar 
forces  and  values,  we  assert  that  the  fulfill¬ 
ing  of  life  consists  in  realizing  to  the  full  the 
life  bestowed.  Living  includes  the  active 
realization  of  all  capacity,  and  its  full  use 


4 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


within  the  sphere  of  divine  intention.  Full- 
orbed  life  admits  of  no  atrophied  powers. 
No  more  searching  words  fell  upon  the  lis¬ 
tening  ear  of  the  seer  in  Patmos,  than 
those  spoken  by  the  glorious  One  amid  the 
lampstands  to  the  church  in  Sardis:  “I  have 
found  no  works  of  thine  fulfilled  before  My 
God.”  Success  consists  in  living,  not  in 
gain ;  not  in  the  reward  of  doing,  but  in  the 
doing. 

“Not  for  the  gain  of  the  gold ;  for  the  getting,  the 
hoarding,  the  having, 

But  for  the  joy  of  the  deed;  but  for  the  duty 
to  do. 

Go  with  the  spiritual  life,  the  higher  volition  and 
action, 

With  the  great  girdle  of  God,  go  and  encompass 
the  earth.” 

In  order  to  emphasize  this  deepest  of  all 
lessons  it  is  necessary  first  to  clearly  define 
the  realm  of  consideration.  From  the  pre¬ 
sent  discussion  we  eliminate  the  thought  of 
the  after-fulfilments  of  life.  These  are  un¬ 
doubtedly  the  greatest  for  the  whole  of 
man’s  period  upon  earth  is  probationary  and 
preparatory ;  but  seeing  that  the  perfect 
fruitage  of  the  final  life  depends  upon  pre¬ 
sent  living,  we  confine  ourselves  wholly  to 
this.  Through  every  stage  of  present  pre¬ 
paration  there  is  the  possibility  of  fulfil¬ 
ment.  The  first  recorded  words  of  the  per¬ 
fect  One  reveal  this  principle.  The  boy  of 
twelve,  who  was  after  this  to  grow,  yet 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


5 


said:  “Wist  ye  not  that  I  must  be  in  my 
Father’s  house  ?”  and  in  that  sense  of  a  pre¬ 
sent  vocation,  He  fulfilled  life. 

This  word  vocation  has,  alas,  been  robbed 
of  its  true  value,  by  the  fact  that  it  has  re¬ 
ceived  a  false  value.  In  the  dark  ages  it 
came  to  be  used  only  of  those  called  into 
the  sacred  offices  of  the  Church.  Slowly 
and  yet  surely  there  is  emerging  in  the  con¬ 
sciousness  of  man  the  great  truth  that  in 
every  life  there  is  a  vocation  created  by  God- 
bestowed  powers  and  capacities.  We  must 
therefore  resolutely  cancel  the  words  great 
and  small,  and  remember  that  upon  the 
smallest  detail  may  rest  the  mightiest  issues, 
and  in  the  last  revelation  it  will  be  found 
that  those  least  honored  shall  have  the  more 
abundant  honor. 

‘“Preserve  me  from  the  commonplace!’  I  cried, 
‘Nor  let  me  walk  the  vulgar  people’s  way: 

I  long  to  tread  a  loftier  path  than  they 
Who  eat  and  drink,  and  think  of  naught  beside.’ 
I  climbed  to  heights  which  far  ahead  I  spied, 
Nor  would  upon  the  sordid  level  stay: 

I  scorned  the  valley  where  the  shadows  lay, 
And  sought  the  peaks  by  sunlight  glorified. 

But  looking  back  upon  the  road  I  trod, 

I  found  it  wound  among  the  lives  of  men 
Who  called  to  me  for  succor,  but  in  vain. 
And  now,  before  I  see  the  face  of  God, 

I  fain  would  help  whom  I  neglected  then: 

But  I  can  never  pass  that  way  again.” 

Would  we  miss  that  sense  of  failure  we 


6 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


must  glorify  our  own  vocation,  remember¬ 
ing  that  no  gift  of  God  is  small  or  unim¬ 
portant. 

We  must  also  recognize  the  whole  plan  of 
God  if  we  are  to  understand  our  individual 
responsibility,  for  while  it  is  true  that  each 
may  say  “I  am,”  that  is  but  half  the  state¬ 
ment.  All  around  are  others  uttering  the 
words,  and  over  all  is  brooding  the  Eternal 
Father.  In  His  purpose,  the  “I  am”  of 
one  cannot  interfere  with,  but  will  minister 
to,  the  “I  am”  of  each.  In  the  perfect  har¬ 
monies  of  perfect  individualities  God  finally 
fulfils  His  own  I  AM. 

And  yet  once  more,  in  this  consideration,  it 
must  be  remembered  that  help  in  the  fulfill¬ 
ing  of  life  can  come  from  others  within  very 
narrow  limitations.  I  can  but  speak  to  you 
of  the  essential  lights  that  have  gleamed 
upon  my  pathway,  that  you  may  be  as¬ 
sisted  to  the  discovery  of  the  light  that  is 
essential  for  your  life.  It  is  impossible  for 
me  to  declare  the  possibilities  of  your  being, 
neither  can  you  perfectly  understand  those 
of  mine. 

There  is  nothing  more  important  than  that 
we  should  guard  life  from  the  intrusion 
and  interference  of  others.  It  is  a  sorry 
thing  when,  as  Browning  puts  it,  the  life 
is  all  “shop”: 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


7 


I 

“So,  friend,  your  shop  was  all  your  house! 

Its  front,  astonishing  the  street, 

Invited  view  from  man  and  mouse 
To  what  diversity  of  treat 
Behind  its  glass — the  single  sheet! 


“But — shop  each  day  and  all  day  long! 

Friend,  your  good  angel  slept,  your  star 
Suffered  eclipse,  fate  did  you  wrong! 

From  where  these  sorts  of  treasures  are, 
There  should  our  hearts  be — Christ,  how  far !” 

Far  better  that  we  should  cultivate  as  in  the 
Divine  presence  the  hidden  facts,  refusing 
to  lay  bare  to  prying  eyes  that  which,  again 
to  quote  Browning,  is  “house” : 

“Shall  I  sonnet-sing  you  about  myself? 

Do  I  live  in  a  house  you  would  like  to  see? 

Is  it  scant  of  gear,  has  it  store  of  pelf? 

‘Unlock  my  heart  with  a  sonnet-key?’ 

"Invite  the  world,  as  my  betters  have  done? 

‘Take  notice :  this  building  remains  on  view, 
Its  suites  of  reception  every  one, 

Its  private  apartment  and  bedroom,  too; 

“  ‘For  a  ticket,  apply  to  the  Publisher.’ 

No :  thanking  the  public,  I  must  decline. 

A  peep  through  my  window,  if  folk  prefer; 

But,  please  you,  no  foot  over  threshold  of 
mine !” 

I  would  submit  to  you  two  propositions: 
First,  every  life  is  at  once  a  capacity,  a 


8 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


potentiality,  an  opportunity ;  and  seccrid, 
every  such  life  is  fulfilled  by  self-recogni¬ 
tion,  self-abandonment,  self-possession. 

With  regard  to  the  first  of  these  propos¬ 
itions,  that  every  life  is  at  once  capacity, 
potentiality,  and  opportunity,  it  is  necessary 
that  we  should  be  at  some  trouble  to  con¬ 
sider  these  distinctions  as  they  co-exist  in 
every  individuality;  and  here,  because  I  am 
conscious  that  the  words  I  use  are  not  per¬ 
fect,  I  trouble  you  with  definitions. 

By  capacity,  I  intend  an  instrument  created 
for  the  doing  of  certain  work. 

By  potentiality,  I  mean  the  force  which, 
operating  through  the  instrument,  is  equal 
to  the  accomplishment  of  the  work. 

By  opportunity,  I  refer  to  the  demand  for 
the  work  for  which  life  is  capable  and  pow¬ 
erful. 

There  may  be  capacity  without  potentiality, 
for  there  may  be  a  perfect  piece  of  mech¬ 
anism  with  no  motive  power.  Again, 
there  may  be  capacity  and  potentiality  with¬ 
out  opportunity,  for  it  is  possible  to  have 
a  fully  equipped  and  highly  developed  in¬ 
strument,  and  no  chance  for  its  use.  Cases 
have  not  been  unknown  in  which  the  camera 
has  been  in  readiness,  and  the  light  all  that 
was  desired,  but  the  object  to  be  photo- 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


9 


graphed  has  not  been  present.  Neither  of 
these  things  is  lacking  in  any  human  life. 
Each  one  is  a  divinely  created  instrument 
for  specific  work.  Each  one,  in  the  fact  of 
this  life,  possesses  power  sufficient  for  the 
accomplishment  of  the  work.  Each  one, 
in  that  selfsame  fact  of  life,  has  opportunity 
for  the  exercise  of  the  capacity  and  the 
operation  of  the  power. 

The  capacity  may  need  to  be  discovered, 
the  potentiality  to  be  developed,  and  the 
opportunity  to  be  filled,  and  this  statement 
reveals  the  responsibility  resting  upon  each 
of  us.  Of  that  we  shall  speak  in  our  second 
proposition.  Let  us  now  confine  ourselves 
to  a  somewhat  closer  consideration  of  this 
threefold  fact. 

And  first  as  to  capacity.  If  order  be 
heaven’s  first  law,  it  is  equally  true  that 
variety  is  its  constant  method.  In  the  green 
field  that  sweeps  up  the  hill-side,  no  two 
blades  of  grass  are  alike.  In  the  myriad 
leaves  that  make  music  in  the  summer  wind, 
every  leaf  has  its  own  individuality.  In  the 
splendid  and  whirling  whiteness  of  the 
snow  storm,  each  flake  is  different  from  all 
the  rest.  And  among  men  no  two  are 
exactly  similar  in  form  or  in  feature.  This 
external  symbolism  suggests  the  fact  that 
every  life  is  alone  in  its  capacity,  and  pos¬ 
sesses  some  peculiar  trust  for  the  common¬ 
wealth.  When  once  there  has  dawned  upon 


10 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


us  the  vision  of  God’s  whole  family,  we 
shall  realize  that  every  member  of  that 
family  has  received  by  creation  some  gift 
which  ministers  to  the  perfection  of  the 
whole.  The  great  principle  enunciated  con¬ 
cerning  the  church,  and  illustrated  by  the 
figure  of  the  body  in  the  writings  of  Paul,  Is 
true  as  to  divine  intention  of  the  whole 
human  race.  Thus  the  being  of  each  is  a 
contribution  to  the  well-being  of  all.  Of 
necessity,  therefore,  these  gifts  must  be 
varied,  so  that  every  side  of  the  larger  need 
may  be  supplied. 

Some  are  endowed  with  artistic  faculties. 
Such  detect  the  lines  and  colors  of  beauty, 
catch  the  rhythm  of  truth,  and  are  the 
media  of  the  harmonies. 

The  genius  of  others  is  mechanical.  They 
see  the  fitness  of  things,  learn  the  laws  of 
regularity,  and  with  scientific  accuracy  con¬ 
sider,  contrive,  construct. 

Others,  and  the  larger  company,  are  created 
for  the  heroism  of  toil.  They  with  steady 
patience  and  unending  perseverance  will 
walk  the  same  path,  stoke  the  same  fire,  call 
at  the  same  house,  sit  at  the  same  machine, 
serve  at  the  same  counter  from  day  to  day, 
until  life  has  run  its  course. 

These  varied  capacities  are  not  antagonistic 
but  complementary.  Were  all  our  gifts  ar- 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


11 


tistic,  we  should  sigh  and  dream  ourselves 
away,  leaving  behind  us  nothing  but  the 
fading  colors  of  the  picture  and  the  passing 
cadences  of  the  song. 

Were  all  mechanical,  we  should  dream  no 
dream,  soar  on  no  wings  of  song,  and  the 
green  and  the  blue  would  fade  into  the  drab 
of  a  deadly  dullness. 

Were  all  content  with  monotony,  life  would 
become  a  drudgery  and  a  debasement.  In 
the  commonwealth  of  gifts  the  visions  and 
the  songs  redeem  the  throb  and  precision  of 
the  machinery,  and  fling  light  and  music 
upon  the  daily  round  and  common  task. 
The  correctness  and  perfect  poise  of  me¬ 
chanical  invention  save  men  from  the  wild¬ 
ness  of  unconstrained  imagination,  and  ease 
men  in  the  thousand  walks  of  daily  doing. 
The  magnificent  courage  of  the  great  army 
of  those  who  repeat  their  tasks  from  day 
to  day  suggests  new  visions  and  creates  new 
songs,  while  the  needs  of  such  provide  new 
impulse  for  the  genius  of  mechanical  pre¬ 
cision. 

Every  life  has  within  itself  a  capacity  with¬ 
in  one  of  these  realms.  To  discover  it  and 
fulfil  it  is  to  succeed.  When  the  artist 
sneers  at  the  laborer,  or  the  scientist  de¬ 
spises  the  artist,  or  the  toiler  envies  either, 
by  such  action  personal  capacity  is  paralyzed 
and  life  is  threatened  with  failure. 


12 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


The  recognition  of  this  fact  is  of  vital  im¬ 
portance  to  the  fulfilment  of  life,  and  the 
understanding,  moreover,  of  what  is  per¬ 
haps  the  hardest  lesson  that  we  have  to 
learn,  that  every  gift  of  heaven  is  of  equal 
intrinsic  worth,  and  success  is  to  be  meas¬ 
ured,  not  by  the  character  of  the  capacity, 
but  by  its  realization  and  full  use.  To 
some  are  given  gifts  of  origination,  to 
others  those  of  leadership,  to  the  vast  mul¬ 
titude  those  of  execution. 

Either  without  all  is  useless.  All  acting  in 
rhythmic  cooperation  accomplish  a  divine 
purpose. 

To  paint  the  landscape,  or  to  plough  the 
field ;  to  write  the  poem,  or  to  set  the  type ; 
to  compose  the  symphony,  or  to  build  the 
instrument,  what  matters  it?  In  every  life 
there  is  some  capacity,  the  place  and  value 
of  which  must  be  recognized  by  faith  in  the 
perfect  wisdom  of  the  Creator  and  the 
Father.  To  recognize  my  capacity  and  to 
use  it  as  in  His  sight,  is  to  fulfil  my  life 
and  find  even  here  the  monarch’s  crown, 
the  throne  of  power. 

In  the  marvel  and  mystery  of  human  life 
capacity  is  potentiality.  Within  the  fitness 
for  a  work,  lies  force  sufficient  for  its 
doing.  If  the  dream  suggests  a  duty,  it  is 
born  of  a  dynamic.  The  very  life  force 
which  is  the  inspiration  of  work,  is  also 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


13 


its  energy.  It  is  always  false  to  say,  I  have 
a  gift  if  only  I  had  power.  The  gift  lies 
within  the  power.  Out  of  the  divinely 
created  life  arises  the  vision,  and  in  its 
throb  is  heard  the  music.  The  very  life 
which  generates  the  vision,  in  turn  con¬ 
trolled  by  the  inspiration,  will  give  deft¬ 
ness  to  the  fingers,  and  for  the  long  march 
of  toil,  will  strengthen  the  fibre  for  the 
burden  and  the  journey. 

If  I  see  the  colors  on  the  hills,  I  can  compel 
them  from  the  pigments  and  fling  them  on  * 
the  canvas.  If  I  hear  the  symphonies,  I 
can  express  them  on  the  parchment.  If 
I  know  how  to  turn  the  soil,  or  drive  the 
wheel,  or  hold  the  pen,  the  splendid  mon¬ 
otony  of  heart  and  lung  equip  me  for  the 
doing  of  the  deed. 

This  is  not  to  say  that  potentiality  is  by 
birth  ready  for  the  realization  of  capacity. 
It  needs  instruction,  discipline,  practice ; 
and  in  the  process,  many  a  picture  will  be 
spoiled,  many  a  page  of  music  be  flung 
aside,  many  a  piece  of  wood  in  the  car¬ 
penter’s  shop  rendered  useless,  many  a 
blunder  have  to  be  corrected  in  the  cast¬ 
ing  up  of  figures.  The  fact  that  man  is 
born  with  capacity,  wedded  to  potentiality, 
does  not  mean  that  there  will  be  no  necess¬ 
ity  for  patient,  plodding  perseverance.  It 
is  true  that  the  poet  is  born,  not  made ;  but 


14 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


the  born  poet  yet  has  to  be  made  into  the 
perfect  and  accomplished  singer.  It  is 
equally  true  that  the  preacher  is  born,  but 
his  first  efforts  at  speech  are  not  usually  to 
the  edification  of  the  saints,  save  perhaps 
those  of  his  own  family  circle.  We  see  in 
the  boy  the  promise  of  the  engineer,  but 
the  first  mud  machine  will  contribute  little 
to  the  lightening  of  human  toil.  The  girl 
will  presently  sway  vast  multitudes,  and 
melt  hard  hearts  by  the  tender  and  pas¬ 
sionate  song,  but  there  is  a  process  of  pre¬ 
paration  through  which  she  should  pass, 
if  possible,  far  from  the  haunts  of  men. 
The  first  attempts  of  the  gardener  are 
amusing  to  his  teacher,  and  the  mother 
smiles  through  eyes  all  lovelit  over  the 
first  stitches  of  the  girl  who,  presently,  with 
deft  fingers,  will  robe  in  garments  made 
beautiful  by  the  love  impulse  of  her  sewing, 
the  children  in  her  home. 

And  yet  in  each  of  these  suggested  cases, 
and  in  all  cases,  the  capacity  for  the  work 
has  side  by  side  with  it  power  for  its  doing. 
Let  it  therefore  be  clearly  recognized  that 
for  the  fulfilment  of  life,  that  is,  for  the 
success  which  is  deep,  and  high,  and  true, 
not  only  has  God  bestowed  upon  each  one 
a  capacity  which  is  a  gift  held  in  trust,  but 
also,  in  the  fact  of  life,  sufficient  power  for 
the  use  of  that  capacity  and  the  employ¬ 
ment  of  that  gift. 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


15 


The  third  phase  of  this  threefold  fact, 
namely,  that  each  life  is  also  an  opportunity, 
is  perhaps  the  hardest  of  which  to  convince. 
It  is  at  this  point  that  so  many  works  have 
failed  to  be  fulfilled.  Those  fully  con¬ 
scious  of  gift  and  power  are  in  danger  of 
allowing  years  to  drift  as  they  wait  for 
some  epoch,  or  crisis,  or  door  of  opportun¬ 
ity.  Such  waiting  often  eventuates  in 
another  attitude,  that  of  bemoaning  the  fact 
that  the  opportunities  have  been  missed. 
Such  persons  will  often  quote  the  words  of 
Brutus  in  “Julius  Caesar” : 

“There  is  a  tide  in  the  affairs  of  men 
Which  taken  at  the  flood  leads  on  to  fortune; 
Omitted,  all  the  voyage  of  their  life 
Is  bound  in  shallows  and  in  miseries.” 

And  they  wait  for  that  high  “tide,”  which 
never  seems  to  rise  quite  high  enough,  or 
bemoan  the  “shallows”  and  the  “miseries,” 
into  which  they  have  drifted.  Would  that 
we  could  persuade  them  to  continue  the 
quotation : 

“On  such  a  full  sea  are  we  now  afloat, 

And  we  must  take  the  current  when  it  serves, 
Or  lose  our  venture.” 

Life  in  itself,  without  reference  to  place, 
or  time,  or  circumstance,  is  an  opportunity. 
The  crowd  or  the  solitude  is  accidental  and 
Unimportant.  The  capacity  and  the  poten¬ 
tiality  create  the  opportunity.  In  the 


16 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


power  of  a  God-given  life  I  must  exercise 
the  divinely  bestowed  gift  here  and  now. 
Let  that  here  be  wheresoever  I  may  be,  and 
that  now  mean  whensoever.  To  live  in 
active  realization  of  gift  and  power  is  to 
fill  the  opportunity.  As  Tennyson  ex¬ 
presses  it  in  the  “Golden  Year”: 

“What  stuff  is  this  ! 

Old  writers  push’d  the  happy  season  back, — 

The  more  fools  they, — we  forward:  dreamers 
both : 

You  most,  that  in  an  age,  when  every  hour 
Must  sweat  her  sixty  minutes  to  the  death, 

Live  on,  God  love  us,  as  if  the  seedsman,  rapt 
Upon  the  teeming  harvest,  should  not  plunge 
His  hand  into  the  bag:  but  well  I  know 
That  unto  him  who  works,  and  feels  he  works, 
This  same  grand,  year  is  ever  at  the  doors.” 

This  waiting  for  opportunity  is  born  of  the 
false  idea  that  success  depends  upon  the 
element  of  conspicuousness,  and  never  un¬ 
til  we  are  rid  of  this  shall  we  realize  how 
great  the  opportunities  which  are  ever  pre¬ 
sent,  and  which  we  in  our  folly  have  so 
often  missed.  There  are  opportunities,  to 
fill  which  we  must  be  seen  of  others,  and 
from  these  we  have  no  right  to  retire  from 
a  mock  modesty,  which  is  of  the  very  es¬ 
sence  of  self-consciousness. 

If  the  painted  picture,  or  the  published 
poem,  or  the  announced  discovery  shou» 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


17 


call  us  from  the  quietness  and  peace  of  ob¬ 
scurity  into  the  turmoil  and  unrest  of  pub¬ 
licity,  we  have  no  right  to  hide  the  picture, 
to  suppress  the  poetry  or  to  secrete  the  dis¬ 
covery. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  the  exercise  of  the 
gift  hold  us  in  some  place  unvisited  by  the 
busy  crowd,  and  our  constancy  and  fidelity 
are  therefore  known  only  to  Him  from 
whom  the  gift  has  been  received,  and  for 
whose  glory  it  is  to  used,  is  not  the  op¬ 
portunity  even  yet  greater?  There  is  some¬ 
thing  of  magnificence  in  the  thought  of 
working  only  for  the  pleasure  of  the  di¬ 
vine  eye  and  the  satisfaction  of  the  divine 
heart,  which  is  missing  from  any  other 
kind  of  service. 

Gray  was  perfectly  right  when  he  wrote: 

“Full  many  a  flower  is  born  to  blush  unseen,” 

but  did  he  quite  express  the  truth  when  he 
added : 

“And  waste  its  sweetness  on  the  desert  air?” 

If  no  human  eye  rests  on  the  desert  flower, 
it  delights  the  God  who  created  it  for 
beauty.  If  its  fragrance  gladdens  no  human 
sense,  it  satisfies  Him  from  whom  its  sweet¬ 
ness  comes. 

Tour  opportunity  is  where  you  are.  Live 
there,  fully,  fearlessly,  forcefully,  and 


18 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


though  it  seem  as  though  you  make  no  con¬ 
tribution  to  the  general  good,  it  is  but  false 
seeming,  for  life  is  filled  to  the  full  when 
it  satisfies  the  heart  of  God. 

Let  me  now  pass  to  my  second  proposition. 
Every  life  is  fulfilled  by  self-recognition, 
self-abandonment  and  self-possession. 

It  may  be  well  that  through  the  early  years 
of  childhood  there  should  be  little  care  in 
this  first  particular.  The  freer  from  all 
self-consciousness  even  in  the  highest  sense 
of  that  word  the  child  may  be,  the  better 
for  the  true  recognition  of!  self  that  will 
eventuate.  In  the  divine  economy  a  young 
life  is  thought  of  and  planned  for  by  par¬ 
ents  and  instructors,  and  this  creates  the 
freedom  in  which  there  may  be  a  natural 
unfolding  of  the  divine  creation.  Through 
this  process,  however,  there  must  be  the 
emergence  of  a  true  recognition  of  per¬ 
sonality,  and  that  in  three  particulars,  in  re¬ 
lation  to  God,  in  relation  to  the  race,  and 
as  to  actual  capacity  and  responsibility. 

There  will  be  no  fulfilment  of  life  until 
there  is  a  clear  understanding  concerning 
it,  that  it  is  a  creation  of  God.  So  deep  a 
mystery  is  human  nature  and  so  unre¬ 
coverable  are  the  possibilities  of  every  In¬ 
dividual  life  by  all  save  Him  who  is  Cre¬ 
ator,  that  to  attempt  to  fulfil  it  is  utter 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


19 


folly,  save  as  there  is  a  profound  recog¬ 
nition  of  its  divine  origin.  I  must  re¬ 
member  that  this  strange  trinity  in  unity, 
of  spirit,  mind,  and  body,  which  I  express  in 
the  formula  “I  am,”  is  the  offspring  and  is 
in  the  image  of  God. 

Neither  is  this  recognition  complete,  if  I 
think  of  Him  as  being  far  back,  behind  the 
original  human  being  and  with  no  closer 
connection  to  me  than  that  of  One  by 
whose  first  propulsion  the  race  commenced 
its  march.  God  is  as  truly  my  Creator  as 
He  was  that  of  the  first  human  being.  Into 
the  complex  mystery  of  my  life  He  has 
projected  a  .thought  and  'force  nowhere 
else  expressed,  and  I  shall  never  recognize 
my  capacity  or  realize  my  potentiality  apart 
from  a  clear  understanding  of  this  essent¬ 
ial  fact. 

To  this  there  must  be  added  as  a  necessary 
corollary  the  fact  of  His  kingship  and 
authority.  To  attempt  to  live  save  under 
His  immediate  control  is  to  make  certain 
the  most  disastrous  failure.  He  is  the  God 
in  whose  hand  my  breath  is  and  whose 
are  all  my  ways.  I  must  therefore  glorify 
Him  or  degrade  myself.  Herein  lies  the 
wisdom  of  the  old  injunction: 

“Trust  in  the  Lord  with  all  thine  heart, 

And  lean  not  unto  thine  own  understanding: 

In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  Him, 

And  He  shall  direct  thy  paths/' 


20 


The  Fulfilment  of  Lif* 


To  these  facts  concerning  Him  there  must 
be  added  that  which  was  the  essential  reve¬ 
lation  of  Jesus,  the  Christ.  He  is,  in  all 
the  tender  and  unfailing  value  of  the  words, 
“our  Father.”  In  the  wisdom  and  light 
of  His  creation,  and  in  the  exercise  of  His 
kingly  authority,  there  is  always  present, 
as  reason  and  method,  the  unfailing  con¬ 
stancy  of  His  infinite  love. 

This  recognition  of  self  in  relation  to  God 
will  issue  in  the  recognition  of  self  in  re¬ 
lation  to  man.  The  whole  creation  is  also 
of  God,  and  is  one.  I  therefore  am  a  unit 
in  a  unity,  related  to  all,  am  responsible 
for  the  fulfilment  of  the  function  of  my 
life,  in  order  that  other  lives  may  find  in 
mine  their  complement  and  completion. 

This  recognition  of  self  forbids  selfishness, 
and  makes  urgent  demand  that  the  third 
phase  in  self-recognition  shall  be  also  ful¬ 
filled,  that  namely,  of  capactiy.  It  is  a 
solemn  duty  laid  upon  every  life,  that  there 
should  be  a  definite  discovery  of  the  vo¬ 
cation  of  God.  This  is  to  be  sought  for, 
not  by  the  sounding  of  a  voice  from  with¬ 
out,  but  by  the  discovery  of  the  possibility 
that  lies  within.  Let  each  ask  the  ques¬ 
tion,  What  can  I  do?  and  in  the  light  of 
the  earlier  consideration,  let  there  be  no 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


21 


hesitation  and  no  shrinking1  from  the  re¬ 
velation. 

If  my  ability  demands  that  I  pass  through 
training  into  some  hidden  place,  there  to 
serve  without  sound  of  trumpet  or  human 
encouragement,  then  let  me  be  glad  that  I 
have  a  gift,  the  value  of  which  lies  in  the 
fact  that  the  sole  reward  of  its  right  use 
will  be  the  approbation  of  heaven. 

If  my  capacity  is  of  such  a  nature  that  for 
its  fulfilment  I  must  become  the  centre  of 
human  criticism  and  commendation,  let  me 
move  to  the  front  without  boasting  and 
without  cowardice. 

There  can  be  no  fulfilment  of  life  apart  from 
this  recognition  of  self  as  to  capacity  in  re¬ 
lation  to  God  and  man. 

To  self-recognition  there  must  be  added 
self-abandonment,  and  this  also  in  the  three 
particulars  considered  under  the  previous 
heading.  The  consciousness  of  individu¬ 
ality  will  create  a  great  sense  of  depend¬ 
ence  and  of  need.  This  sense  must  issue  in 
the  abandonment  of  the  whole  being  to  God 
— abandonment  to  Him  as  Creator  in 
plastic  response  to  His  hand.  It  is  the  old 
lesson,  but  it  must  be  learned. 


22 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


“Thou,  Thou  art  the  Potter,  and  we  are  the  Clay, 
And  morning  and  even,  and  day  after  day, 

Thou  turnest  Thy  wheel,  and  our  substance  is 
wrought 

Into  form  of  Thy  will,  into  shape  of  Thy 
thought. 

“Thou,  Thou  art  the  Potter,  the  wheel  turns 
around. 

Thine  eyes  do  not  leave  it.  Our  atoms  are 
ground 

Fine,  fine  in  Thy  mills.  O  the  pain  and  the  cost  1 
Thou  knowest  their  number :  not  one  shall  be 
lost. 

“Should  Clay  to  the  Potter  make  answer  and  say, 
‘Now  what  dost  Thou  fashion?’  Thy  hand  would 
not  stay: 

Untiring,  resistless,  without  any  sound, 

True,  true  to  its  Master,  the  wheel  would  go 
’round. 

“How  plastic  are  we  as  we  live  in  Thy  hands ! 
Who,  Who  as  the  Potter  the  Clay  understands? 
Thy  ways  are  a  wonder,  but  oft,  as  a  spark, 
Some  hint  of  !Thy  meaning  shines  out  in  the 
dark. 

“What  portion  is  this  for  the  sensitive  Clayl 
To  be  beaten  and  moulded  from  day  unto  day; 
To  answer  not,  question  not,  just  to  be  still, 

And  know  Thou  art  shaping  us  unto  Thy  will. 

“This,  this  may  we  plead  with  Thee,  Workman 
Divine — 

Press  deep  in  our  substance  some  symbol  of 
Thine, 

Thy  name  or  Thy  image,  and  let  it  be  shown 
That  Thou  wilt  acknowledge  the  work  as  Thine 
own.” 

And  yet  there  is  more  in  this  abandon- 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


23 


ment  to  God,  for  we  are  more  than  clay. 
It  is  the  abandonment  of  will  which  is  to 
be  expressed  in  loyal  service,  undertaken 
and  carried  through  under  His  direction 
and  in  the  power  of  the  life  He  has 
bestowed. 

“The  hands  that  do  God’s  work  are  patient  hands, 

And  quick  for  toil,  though  folded  oft  in 
prayer ; 

They  do  the  unseen  work  they  understand 
And  find — no  matter  where. 

“The  feet  that  follow  His  must  be  swift  feet, 
For  time  is  all  too  short,  the  way  too  long; 
Perchance  they  will  be  bruised,  but  falter  not, 
For  love  shall  make  them  strong.” 

And  yet  once  again,  abandonment  to  God 
finds  its  fairest  expression  in  the  restful¬ 
ness  of  loving  Him,  and  the  love  that  rests 
/.n  Him. 

“I  lay  me  down  to  sleep, 

With  little  care 
Whether  my  waking  find 
Me  here  or  there. 

“A  bowing,  burdened  head 
That  only  asks  to  rest, 

Unquestioning,  upon 
A  loving  breast. 

“My  good  right  hand  forgets 
Its  cunning  now; 

To  march  the  weary  march 
I  know  not  how. 


24 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


“I  am  not  eager,  bold, 

Nor  strong — all  that  is  past; 

I  am  ready  not  to  do, 

At  last,  at  last. 

“My  half-day’s  work  is  done, 

And  this  is  all  my  part — 

I  give  a  patient  God 
My  patient  heart, 

“And  grasp  His  banner  still, 

Though  all  the  blue  be  dim 
These  stripes  as  well  as  stars 
Lead  after  Him.” 

This  abandonment  of  self  to  God  will  find 
its  outward  and  visible  expression  in  the 
abandonment  of  self  to  man.  This  aban¬ 
donment  to  man  in  turn  will  be  expressed, 
not  in  great  deeds,  or  great  gifts  alone,  but 
in  the  exercise  of  the  capacity  God-bestow¬ 
ed  for  the  profit  and  benefit  of  those  who 
are  around  me. 

“If  any  little  word  of  mine 
May  make  a  life  the  brighter, 

If  any  little  song  of  mine 

May  make  a  heart  the  lighter, 

God  help  me  speak  the  little  word, 

And  take  my  bit  of  singing 
And  drop  it  in  some  lonely  vale, 

To  set  the  echoes  ringing. 

“If  any  little  love  of  mine 

May  make  a  life  the  sweeter, 

If  any  little  care  of  mine 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


25 


May  make  a  friend’s  the  fleeter, 

If  any  little  lift  may  ease 
The  burden  of  another, 

God  give  me  love  and  care  and  strength 
To  help  my  toiling  brother.” 

Philanthropy  is  as  perfectly  expressed  in  a 
cup  of  cold  water  as  in  the  founding  of  a 
university.  The  sister,  who  by  music  and 
painting  makes  the  home  brighter  for  the 
brother,  is  as  surely  exercising  self-aban¬ 
donment  to  highest  purpose,  as  is  the  con¬ 
secrated  women  who,  on  the  foreign  field, 
makes  up  that  which  is  behindhand  in  the 
sufferings  of  Christ.  The  mother,  who 
pours  out  her  life  in  a  silent  stream  of 
unceasing  service  within  the  walls  of  home, 
is  filling  life  to  the  full,  nay,  the  rivers  of 
her  life  are  overflowing  in  streams  of  bless¬ 
ing  which  will  at  last  be  confluent  with  the 
river  which  makes  glad  the  city  of  God. 

This  self-abandonment  must  be  in  all  full¬ 
ness.  That  part  of  my  life’s  capacity  and  po¬ 
tentiality  reserved  for  myself  will  wither  and 
die.  That  which  I  without  reserve  yield 
passively  and  actively  to  God,  by  unceas¬ 
ing  service  of  the  needy  ones  that  lie  near¬ 
est  to  my  pathway,  will  multiply  into 
golden  sheaves.  This  great  truth  has  been 
beautifully  expressed  by  Lowell  in  the 
words  oft  quoted,  and  yet  never  spoiled  by 
the  quoting; 


26 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


“He  gives  only  the  worthless  gold 
Who  gives  from  a  sense  of  duty;' 

But  he  who  gives  but  a  slender  mite, 

And  gives  to  that  which  is  out  of  sight, 

That  thread  of  the  all-sustaining  Beauty 
Which  runs  through  all  and  doth  all  unite, — 

The  hand  cannot  clasp  the  whole  of  his  alms, 
The  heart  outstretches  its  eager  palms, 

For  a  god  goes  with  it  and  makes  it  store 
To  the  soul  that  was  starving  in  darkness  before. 


“  ’T  was  a  mouldy  crust  of  coarse  brown  bread, 
’T  was  water  out  of  a  wooden  bowl, — 

Yet  with  fine  wheaten  bread  was  the  leper  fed, 
And  ’t  was  red  wine  he  drank  with  his  thirsty 
soul. 

•  •••••« 

“Not  what  we  give,  but  what  we  share, 

For  the  gift  without  the  giver  is  bare; 

Who  gives  himself  with  his  alms  feeds  three, 
Himself,  his  hungering  neighbor,  and  Me.” 

In  self-recognition  and  self-abandonment 
there  is  the  limit  of  responsibility.  Where 
this  responsibility  is  fulfilled,  there  issues 
the  third  fact  that  makes  for  the  fulfilment 
of  life,  that,  namely,  of  self-possession. 
For  this  we  are  not  to  strive.  It  is  a 
sequence  and  a  fruitage,  and  consists,  first, 
in  the  new  consciousness  of  self  as  related 
to  God.  If  self-abandonment  means  at  its 
outset  crucifixion,  in  the  resurrection  that 
always  follows  the  cross  is  a  new  possession 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


27 


of  self.  So  that  if  I  am  able  to  say  “I  have 
been  crucified  with  Christ,”  I  shall  be  able 
also  to  say  “I  live.” 

The  capacity  is  from  God  and  for  God. 

The  potentiality  is  of  God  and  to  God. 

The  opportunity  is  in  God  and  with  God. 

This  is  the  region  of  conscious  strength. 
Here  life  may  be  lived  free  from  friction 
which  genders  false  heat  and  retards  speed. 
To  find  life  in  Christ,  in  God,  is  indeed  to 
live  and  to  be  able  to  live. 

Not  only  is  there  this  new  self-possession 
in  God,  there  is  a  new  and  very  precious 
self-possession  in  the  love  of  those  served. 
When  the  late  loved  Queen  Victoria’s  con¬ 
sort  passed  from  her  side,  Tennyson,  the 
laureate,  wrote  words  full  of  exquisite 
beauty : 

“May  all  love, 

His  love,  unseen  but  felt,  o’ershadow  Thee, 
The  love  of  all  Thy  sons  encompass  Thee, 
The  love  of  all  Thy  daughters  cherish  Thee, 
The  love  of  all  Thy  people  comfort  Thee, 

Till  God’s  love  set  Thee  at  his  side  again!” 

I  venture  to  affirm  that  that  prayer  was 
answered  in  her  experience,  and  if  I  should 
be  asked  the  reason  of  this  affirmation,  I 
should  say  that  as  a  queen  she  perfectly 


28 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


abandoned  herself  in  service  to  her  God, 
her  children,  her  people,  and  found  herself 
possessed  in  the  love  of  all,  and  having 
passed  out  of  sight,  lives  even  yet  in  the 
hearts  of  all  over  whom  she  reigned,  the 
mother  queen ;  and  will  live  through  com¬ 
ing  generations  in  the  love  of  those  who 
shall  hear  her  story  repeated  from  parent 
to  child. 

So  also  all  who  abandon  themselves  for 
love  of  God,  in  loving  service,  will  find 
themselves  in  the  wealth  of  love  returned. 
Thus  in  self-possession  there  shall  be  the 
peace  of  a  great  fulfilment  of  life,  no  self¬ 
degradation,  and  no  disorderly  ambition, 
marring  the  perfect  peace  of  full-orbed  life. 

Thus  then  I  would  say  to  you,  Live,  recog¬ 
nizing  that  your  opportunity  is  always  at 
hand,  and  that  you  will  fill  that  opportunity 
by  the  exercise  of  your  own  capacity,  in  the 
power  of  the  potentiality  that  resides  within 
it.  This  you  will  only  do  by  the  recogni¬ 
tion  of  your  own  capacity  in  relatioriTo  God 
and  man  and  by  the  abandonment  of  your 
whole  life,  for  constant  and  consecrated 
service. 

Where  you  will  live  and  serve  matters  little. 

Some  of  you  will  pass  to  places  of  public 
service,  where  many  will  see,  some  greeting 
with  commendation,  some  with  criticism. 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


29 


Have  no  ear  for  these  voices,  but  remember 
ever  that  your  final  account  will  be  given 
to  the  Master  who  has  gifted  you  for  this 
service,  and  your  final  reward  will  be  re¬ 
ceived  from  Him. 

Some  of  you  will  pass  to  quiet  places  of 
hidden  service.  Yours  is  an  especial  honor, 
for  there  is  no  place  so  lonely  as  to  be  far 
from  God.  And  whether  you  work,  or  wait, 
or  watch,  He  will  observe,  and  remember, 
and  at  last,  if  your  works  are  fulfilled  be¬ 
fore  Him,  your  joy  will  be  fulfilled  with 
Him. 

Not  in  a  great  act,  but  in  a  great  attitude 
of  life,  will  you  prove  that  you  have  bene¬ 
fited  by  your  years  of  preparation. 

The  circumstances  of  the  passing  hours  will 
be  very  different.  In  all  probability  every 
one  of  you  will  have  to  pass  through  the 
furnace  of  affliction.  Do  not  be  afraid. 

“Let  thy  gold  be  cast  in  the  furnace, 

Thy  red  gold,  precious  and  bright, 

Do  not  fear  the  hungry  fire. 

With  its  caverns  of  burning  light : 

And  thy  gold  shall  return  more  precious 
Free  from  every  spot  and  stain ; 

For  gold  must  be  tried  by  fire, 

As  a  heart  must  be  tried  by  pain ! 


so 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


“In  the  cruel  fire  of  sorrow 

Cast  thy  heart,  do  not  faint  or  wail; 

Let  thy  hand  be  firm  and  steady, 

Do  not  let  thy  spirit  quail: 

But  wait  till  the  trial  is  over, 

And  take  thy  heart  again; 

For  as  gold  is  tried  by  fire, 

So  a  heart  must  be  tried  by  pain ! 

“I  shall  know  by  the  gleam  and  glitter 
Of  the  golden  chain  you  wear, 

By  your  heart’s  calm  strength  in  loving, 

Of  the  fire  they  have  had  to  bear. 

Beat  on,  true  heart,  for  ever; 

Shine  bright,  strong  golden  chain; 

And  bless  the  cleansing  fire, 

And  the  furnace  of  living  pain  1” 

You  will  also  come  to  days  throbbing  with 
great  joy.  Here  also  I  would  say,  do  not 
be  afraid.  The  enemy  sometimes  suggests 
that  overmuch  joy  may  be  displeasing  to 
God.  It  is  a  lie,  worthy  of  the  one  who 
suggests  it.  His  will  for  you  is  fulness  of 
joy;  only  remember  that  when  your  cup 
runs  over,  you  will  lose  nothing  by  inviting 
some  joyless  ones  to  share  your  blessings. 
Above  all  else,  I  call  you  to  remember  that 
life  can  only  be  finally  fulfilled  as  you 
recognize  today,  tomorrow,  always,  that  it 
is  His  gift  as  to  capacity,  potentiality  and 
opportunity;  and  you  can  only  recognize 
the  capacity,  exercise  the  potentiality, 
realize  the  opportunity  as  He  is  King  and 
Master  as  well  as  Saviour  and  Friend. 


The  Fulfilment  of  Life 


31 


“Children  of  yesterday, 

Heirs  of  tomorrow, 

What  are  you  weaving — 
Labor  or  sorrow? 

Look  to  your  looms  again, 
Faster  and  faster 
Fly  the  great  shuttles 
Prepared  by  the  Master ; 
Life’s  in  the  loom, 

Room  for  it — room  ! 

“Children  of  yesterday, 

Heirs  of  tomorrow, 
Lighten  the  labor 
And  sweeten  the  sorrow. 
Now — while  the  shuttles  fly 
Faster  and  faster, 

Up  and  be  at  it — 

At  work  with  the  Master; 
He  stands  at  your  loom, 
Room  for  Him — room  ! 

“Children  of  yesterday, 

Heirs  of  tomorrow, 

Look  at  your  fabric 
Of  labor  and  sorrow. 
Seamy  and  dark 
With  despair  and  disaster, 
Turn  it — and  lo, 

The  design  of  the  Master  1 
The  Lord’s  at  the  loom, 
Room  for  Him — room  !” 


